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Early voting begins today

Election official Irene Ledesma, right, of Grand Junction checks Shirley Jackson’s driver’s license during the first day of early voting in Mesa Mall’s southern corridor on Monday. Early voting locations around the valley include the old Mesa County Courthouse, Clifton Community Hall, Mesa County Fairgrounds and the Fruita Police Department.

Many Mesa County residents will head to the polls today, and through the end of next week, to get their voting done early.

That certainly makes sense, since voters will be confronted with the longest election ballot in the county’s history. A multitude of state and local issues are crowded onto the ballot, and voters are advised to study the ballot issues thoroughly before they head to the polls. That way, they’ll know how they want to mark their ballots ahead of time, and won’t be rushed in the voting booth.

Voters also still may obtain mail-in ballots from the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, allowing them the option of reviewing the ballot items and taking time to make their decisions in the privacy of their own homes.

However, those who want the clerk to mail a ballot to them must submit an application for a mail-in ballot to the Mesa County Clerk’s Office by Oct. 28. After that, they can pick up the mail-in ballots in person at the elections division of the clerk’s office in the Old County Courthouse, 544 Rood Ave.

No mail-in ballots will be available after Oct. 31. And all mail-in ballots must be delivered to the Mesa County Clerk’s office by 7 p.m., Nov. 4.

For those who choose conventional voting, but don’t want to deal with crowds of people at the polls on Election Day, early voting locations are listed below: